History

International Baptist College (IBC) opened its doors for its first semester on September 8, 1981. However, the College really began several years earlier in the heart of its founder, Dr. James Singleton. Dr. Singleton and his family came to the Valley of the Sun in 1969. Soon he had begun and organized Tri-City Baptist Church, an independent, soul-winning church upon which many ministries would be established.

Early in the 1970's, Dr. Singleton became aware of the negative direction of public education in America, and as a result established Tri-City Christian Academy. Now, with a growing church and an alternative to elementary and secondary public education also growing, the next phase was about to begin.

Dr. Jerry Tetreau and
Dr. James Singleton

As Dr. Singleton became more acquainted with the West, he began to realize that there were very few places to train young men and women for the gospel ministries of church planting, evangelism, missions, and Christian education. His heart became more and more burdened for the establishment of a school that would uniquely meet the needs of the West, yet become international in scope and ministry.

Late in 1979 Dr. Singleton enlisted the help of Dr. Jerry Tetreau, administrator of Tri-City Christian Academy, to begin the initial steps necessary in establishing a Bible college as a ministry of Tri-City Baptist Church. In October of 1980, with many hours of prayer and planning behind it, Tri-City Baptist Church voted to organize International Baptist College. Classes began in the fall of 1981.

Very quickly the next steps were planned. It was decided that the campus would be housed in the facilities of Tri-City Baptist Church. Teaching responsibilities would be shared with both full-time church staff and academy faculty on a part-time basis. Letters were sent to hundreds of churches and Christian schools announcing the opening of the College.

In that first year, International Baptist College began with fifteen full-time students. These students were matriculated from Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, and California. In this initial year, three young ladies occupied the dormitory house. The following year, a men's dormitory house was also established. Several years later, the College was able to purchase a very lovely home for dormitory use.

The class of 1983 became the first graduating class of International Baptist College. The Associate of Arts degree was awarded to two secretarial students. The junior class was added the following year, and then in 1985, the charter four-year class commencement was held. One Associate of Arts degree and seven Bachelor of Arts degrees were awarded.

Once the first four-year class had finished its course and moved out into the Christian ministry, International Baptist College began another program of study. In 1986, a graduate program was begun offering a Master of Education degree and a Master of Ministry degree. The Doctor of Ministry was added in 1987, the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies was added in 1989, and the Master of Divinity and Specialist in Ministry were added in 1991.

Along with the gradual growth of the student body, the addition of well-qualified full-time faculty, and the increase in academic programs, the physical facilities also increased.

A 600-seat auditorium was finished in 1981. The media center was increased in physical size as well as in the volumes of books collected. A student center was completed which housed a lounge and recreation area as well as dining facilities for dorm students. After 1990 a family life center was completed. This building houses a 600-seat gymnasium, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a large fellowship hall, and four classrooms.

The church completed the 800 educational building in 1995. The building provides classroom, chapel, and fellowship space for the College and singles’ ministry.

Tri-City Baptist Church has made International Baptist College a home missionary project and has been the undergirding strength of the financial support. However, many friends and fellow churches have made International Baptist College a regular part of their budgets. Several student aid scholarships have been made available as a result of the burden carried by these friends of the College.

Upon completion of a detailed self-study of the many facets of the College, the Transnational Association of Christian Schools and Colleges (TRACS) granted International Baptist College Candidacy level of accreditation in October 1994, at which time Dr. Jerry Tetreau became president. IBC completed another self-study in February 2000 and achieved TRACS (P.O. Box 328, Forest, Virginia 24551, 804-525-9539) accredited status on September 20, 2000.

Following 50 years of service in Christian ministry, with 30 of those years at Tri-City Baptist Church, Pastor James Singleton yielded the pastorate of the Church to Co-Pastor Michael Sproul. Effective September 1, 1999, Dr. Sproul succeeded Dr. Singleton as Senior Pastor and Chairman of the IBC Board.

Friday, July 13, 2001, Pastor Singleton passed from earth to Heaven. In one sense this was sudden, in another it was anticipated. Pastor Singleton, founder of Tri-City Baptist Church and its many ministries, including IBC, had battled against liver cancer for nearly two years. God had wonderfully prolonged his life; He is to be praised for the godly heritage that Pastor Singleton passed on to many lives.

Members of IBC's board of directors
break ground on IBC's new campus

Tri-City Baptist Church voted unanimously on April 14, 2002, to proceed with the IBC "Invest and Build for Eternity" project. At the time of the vote, the College had approximately $750,000 in assets for the project. The project called for the building of a two-story academic wing added to our current gymnasium, as well as a separate two-story dormitory; these structures were to be on the property at Price and Southern. However, the Church voted on October 13, 2002 to seek to sell the property at Price and Southern and to relocate the Church, College, and other ministries to a new location on the south side of Germann just west of Dobson in Chandler, Arizona.

On Sunday, March 6, 2005, International Baptist College and Tri-City Baptist Church celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies on the property at Dobson and Germann. On July 13, 2005, construction of Singleton Hall, the first college residence hall on the property, was started. The College moved into this first building on July 29, 2006. The building of the residence hall was the first phase of the "Invest and Build for Eternity project."

In 2007 Jerry Tetreau became Chancellor of International Baptist College and David Brock became International Baptist College's third president.

In July 2008 Tri-City Baptist Church began to build the new church facility in Chandler. The last service in Tempe was held on August 16, 2009. The opening service was held on August 23, 2009 and opened the 2009-2010 school year on the new property.